Item suspension apparatus (ISA)

ABSTRACT

The Item Suspension Apparatus consists of two parallel tracks that are ceiling mounted. The two tracks traverse the length of the Paint Booth. Several truck assemblies ( 3 ) ride along the suspended tracks and provide the points at which specially designed custom item hangers ( 5 - 12 ) can be affixed. The truck assemblies ( 3 ) are tied together with a twist chain ( 13 ). This enables the truck assemblies ( 3 ) to be strategically placed where needed in the Paint Booth by the technician pulling the connected twist chain ( 13 ) to the desired location. The custom item hangers ( 5 - 12 ) provide the access points where the items to be worked on are securely mounted. The custom item hangers ( 5 - 12 ) are affixed to the truck assemblies ( 3 ) by the technician where needed. The items, then, are suspended in mid-air within the Paint Booth in such a position as to provide the technician with unrestricted access.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of PPA APPL NO. 60/539,149, filed Jan. 27, 2004 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to Paint Booths and is an apparatus that suspends hardware items in midair, specifically for the purpose of easily working with the items.

2. Background of the Invention

Handling hardware items in Paint Booths has been a problem for the Paint Technician/Artist. Some technicians have used work stands and some have resorted to hanging wires from the Paint Booth ceiling. Neither of these solutions have been entirely satisfactory.

Work stands require that the technician set up and paint one side of the item and wait for it to dry before setting up to paint the other side. Since the item must be in contact with the stand, the area of contact might need additional preparation before painting the other side. Also, due to the various sizes and shapes the stability of an individual item is questionable. If the item falls it will have to be redone. During the process the technician must take care not to entangle the work stands with the air line to the paint gun. This is extremely time consuming especially when handling bulky items. The technician is also limited to a lesser number of items that can be handled at one time in the Paint Booth.

Hanging wires from the ceiling of the Paint Booth eliminates the contact between the item and the work stands but is a slipshod method at best. Often there are no convenient places on the ceiling to affix the wires. Wires are flexible and difficult to position correctly. Wires may break. The item can move under pressure from the paint spray gun and any movement can interfere with obtaining the desired effect.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION-OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:

-   -   (a) 360-degree access to the hardware item surface for painting         and/or custom design;     -   (b) secure mounting of the hardware item with custom made         hangers;     -   (c) the capability to accommodate hardware items as small as a         door handle or as large as an auto frame;     -   (d) time saving, no need to set up work stands or hang wires;     -   (e) the fact that hardware items are suspended makes it easy for         the technician to move around with the trailing hoses and other         tools used with the paint equipment;     -   (f) a way to move painted items aside so that other items can be         worked on;     -   (g) easy pull out and easy store away;     -   (h) infinite number of selectable positions so the Paint Booth         can be used for other large items;     -   (i) the technician is free to create the desired result with the         item rather than worrying about how to handle the item.

SUMMARY

The Item Suspension Apparatus is a device that makes the job of the technician easier by enabling the technician to handle various size items in the Paint Booth with ease.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

Drawing page 1/7 shows the overall Item Suspension Apparatus with reference numerals for components. 1 track and stop clip 2 track connecting plate 3 truck assembly 4 ceiling mounting bracket 5-12 custom item hangers 13 twist chain

Drawing page 2/7 shows FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and reference numerals for components. 14 steel box 15 wheel axle housing bracket 16 truck wheel/axle

FIG. 1A shows a side view of one of the tracks with the track stop clip.

FIG. 1B shows an end view of the track stop clip mounting and adjustment.

FIG. 2A shows a side view of a track connecting plate.

FIG. 2B shows an end view of a track connecting plate.

FIG. 3A shows a front view of a complete truck assembly.

FIG. 3B shows a side view of the dual wheel assembly.

FIG. 3C shows a front exploded view of one wheel/bracket.

FIG. 3D shows a side exploded view of the dual wheel assembly.

Drawing page 3/7 shows FIGS. 4A and 4B.

FIG. 4A shows a front view of a ceiling mounting bracket.

FIG. 4B shows a top view of a ceiling mounting bracket.

Drawing page 4/7 shows FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6 and 7.

FIG. 5A shows a side view of one of the universal custom item hangers, primarily used for hoods or doors.

FIG. 5B shows an end view of the typical item hanger.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of one of the universal custom item hangers.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of one of the universal custom item hangers.

Drawing page 5/7 shows FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B and 10.

FIG. 8A shows a side view of one of the universal custom item hangers used primarily for motorcycle gas tanks.

FIG. 8B shows an end view of the motorcycle gas tank hanger.

FIG. 9A shows a side view of a universal custom item hanger, primarily used for fenders and bumper covers.

FIG. 9B shows an end view of the fender and bumper cover hanger.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of one of the universal custom item hangers used primarily for bumper covers.

Drawing page 6/7 shows FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C.

FIG. 11A shows a side view of one of the universal custom item hangers used primarily for wide fenders.

FIG. 11B shows a front view of the wide fender hanger.

FIG. 11C shows a top view showing the additional reinforcement bar.

Drawing page 7/7 shows FIGS. 12A and 12B.

FIG. 12A shows a side view of one of the universal custom item hangers used primarily for narrow fenders.

FIG. 12B shows a front view of the narrow fender hanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and in particular to Drawing page 1/7, one form of the apparatus of the present invention for suspending items in a Paint Booth is there illustrated and generally designated by the numerals 1 through 13. The apparatus consists of two parallel tracks 1, each with a stop clip better shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, suspended from the ceiling of the Paint Booth and affixed thereto by eight ceiling mounting brackets 4. Each ceiling mounting bracket 4, better shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, is secured to the ceiling using two steel ceiling bolts and ceiling nylon locking nuts. Each ceiling mounting bracket 4 is also fastened to the track 1 with one steel ceiling bolt and one ceiling nylon locking nut. Each track consists of lengths of J-channel track made of 16-gauge galvanized steel. The various lengths of track are joined using track connecting plates 2. Each track connecting plate 2, better seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, is affixed to the track using two steel track bolts, two flat steel track washers and two track nylon locking nuts. Using conventional means of measuring, the tracks are installed parallel and longitudinally in the Paint Booth.

The apparatus also comprises five truck assemblies 3. Details of a truck assembly 3 are better shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D. The body of a truck assembly 3 is a steel box 14 to which a dual wheel assembly is attached to each end as shown in FIG. 3B. Each dual wheel assembly is secured to steel box 14 using two steel bolts, four steel flat washers, and two nylon locking nuts as shown in FIG. 3D. An L-shaped steel truck stop is also fastened with one of the steel bolts as shown in FIG. 3D. The dual wheel assembly comprises two wheel axle housing brackets 15 as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D. Each wheel axle housing bracket 15 retains the truck wheel/axle 16 by means of a steel cotter pin and a steel washer.

The truck assembly 3 rides on the two parallel tracks 1. The truck assemblies 3 are connected by a nickel-plated twist chain 13. The twist chain 13 is fastened to the top center of the truck assembly 3 by a steel sheet metal screw. The front end of twist chain 13 is terminated with a T-Handle. The back end of twist chain 13 is fastened to rear wall of the Paint Booth with a steel sheet metal screw. The spacing between each truck assembly 3 can be adjusted when the twist chain 13 is attached. Adjustment is made by selecting chain link to be secured. The space between the rear truck assembly 3 and the Paint Booth wall is also adjustable in the same manner. When twist chain 13 pulls the front truck assembly 3 fully forward, the front truck wheel/axle 16 engages the stop clip 1 to provide secure positioning.

Custom item hangers 5-12 as shown on Drawing page 1/7 can exhibit many different configurations. The custom item hangers shown here on Drawing pages 4/7 through 7/7 have been designed to accommodate various items as needed. Each custom item hanger consists of a top end hook and a bottom end hook. The top end hook is a box shaped steel strap as shown typically in FIG. 5B. The bottom end hook is round steel stock customized per item.

The custom item hanger shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is used mainly for hoods and doors. FIG. 6 shows a universal hanger. FIG. 7 also shows another universal hanger. FIGS. 8A and 8B show a hanger used for suspending motorcycle gas tanks. FIGS. 9A and 9B show a hanger used mainly for fenders and bumper covers. FIG. 10 shows a universal bumper cover hanger. FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C show a hanger used for wide fenders. This hanger is reinforced with a steel rod that runs longitudinally to provide extra strength. FIGS. 12A and 12B show a hanger used for narrow fenders.

Operation of Invention

Simple and intuitive operation of the Item Suspension Apparatus is a main feature of the invention. The technician pulls on the T-handle connected to twist chain 13 to place truck assembly 3 in the desired position. If all truck assemblies 3 are used, the most forward truck assembly 3 will engage the track and stop clip 1 with the truck wheel/axle 16. Next a custom item hanger, or hangers 5-12, is selected to accommodate the item to be suspended. The custom item hanger, or hangers 5-12, is placed so that the top end hook goes over the top of steel box 14 of truck assembly 3. The item to be suspended is then placed in a position so that the bottom end hook, or hooks, engages the part securely. The technician then has unrestricted access to work on the item.

When work on the item is complete, the item is removed from the bottom end hook, or hooks. The custom item hanger, or hangers 5-12, are removed from the top of steel box 14 of truck assembly 3. The custom item hangers 5-12 are then stored outside the Paint Booth. In order to store away the Item Suspension Apparatus the technician pulls the T-handle of twist chain 13 to the rear of the Paint Booth with all truck assemblies 3 riding along the tracks to the stored position. The stored position is a convenience feature of the Item Suspension Apparatus.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF INVENTION

The Item Suspension Apparatus is an invention that enables the Paint Technician/Artist to handle various size items in the Paint Booth with ease. Accordingly, the Item Suspension Apparatus provides the following advantages:

-   -   (a) 360-degree access to the hardware item surface for painting         and/or custom design;     -   (b) secure mounting of the hardware item with custom made         hangers;     -   (c) the capability to accommodate hardware items as small as a         door handle or as large as an auto frame;     -   (d) time saving, no need to set up work stands or hang wires;     -   (e) the fact that hardware items are suspended makes it easy for         the technician to move around with the trailing hoses and other         tools used with the paint equipment;     -   (f) a way to move painted items aside so that other items can be         worked on;     -   (g) easy pull out and easy store away;     -   (h) infinite number of selectable positions so the Paint Booth         can be used for other large items;     -   (i) the technician is free to create the desired result with the         item rather than worry about how to handle the item.

Thus the reader will see that the Item Suspension Apparatus provides a time efficient, secure mounting and convenient enabling tool for the Paint Technician/Artist. While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other varieties are possible. For example, more or less number of truck assemblies can be used, the length of the tracks can vary, and many new designs for custom item hangers are possible.

Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

1. An item suspension apparatus for use by a standing Paint Technician/Artist and installed on the ceiling of a Paint Booth, comprising: a. two ceiling mounted J-tracks installed parallel and longitudinally in a Paint Booth including a stop clip mounted at the end of each track and track connecting plates where said track sections meet; b. several truck assemblies, including dual wheel assemblies at each end to enable the truck assemblies to traverse on the parallel tracks from the stored position to the most forward position to engage the stop clip; c. a plurality of different custom item hangers attachable to the truck assemblies, each custom item hanger different consisting of a top end hook and a bottom end hook; and d. a twist chain affixed to the top center of each truck assembly, the front end of the twist chain terminated with a handle and the back end fastened to the rear wall of the Paint Booth; whereby said apparatus allows 360 degree access to hardware item surfaces for painting and/or custom design. 